Our country’s talented crop of pastry chefs and home bakers have once again flexed their confectionery muscles by releasing a bunch of great-tasting and truly indulgent pastries this year. They were not just on point with their flavor combinations and contrasting textures, but also on fleek with their presentations. The year was baked to perfection, and this dozen clearly stood out.

1. Payoyo Cheesecake by El Born (@elborn.ph)

In time for their anniversary, El Born released a limited edition cheesecake that makes use of payoyo, which is made from the milks of Payoya goats and Merina grazalemeña sheep in Villaluenga del Rosario and other areas of Sierra de Grazalema in Spain. The supply of this much-coveted dairy product is limited, which makes their celebration cake even more special. They served it with a small chunk of membrillo, aka quince paste, which married well with the blue cheese-like notes of the cheesecake. Just perfect!

2. Matcha Strawberry Velvet Cake by Homemade by Roshan (@homemadebyroshan)

In-demand home baker Roshan Samtani knocks it out of the park year after year. She comes out with such a stellar lineup that it’s becoming hard to choose a single best from her annual roster. This year was no exception with the likes of her Toffee Nut Latte Torte rounding up the list. But edging out the competition is her Valentine offering—a moist matcha cake with a matcha ganache and matcha-strawberry frosting. The soft, earthy bitterness of the tea paired with the tanginess of the berries is a taste partnership I was too happy to discover.

3. Dear Ingrid by Hi Mama Pappot (@himamapappot)

Just before she gave birth around midyear, Jessica Ho channeled her excitement for her daughter’s arrival by releasing this love letter of a cake. It is composed of two layers of vanilla bean sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk. Separating them is a generous mound of ripe mango chunks and a potent lemon curd. It was deliriously tasty and tropical in flavor. I believe it’s her way of extending her personal blessing to her dessert followers—in a very delicious way.

4. Matcha Crunch by The Tiramisu Bar (@thetiramisubar)

When it comes to the classic Italian dessert tiramisu, this family-owned brand has come up with a mean version and then some—a dark chocolate and orange version, a black sesame number which they rereleased in time for Chinese New Year, and a roasted hazelnut which ate like a Ferrero Rocher. They already introduced a matcha tiramisu a few years back, but their 2024 adaptation beats the OG as it adds a crunchy matcha chocolate layer on the base.

5. Matcha Marron Cake by Flour Pot (@flourpotph)

This year blessed a lot of matcha lovers (this writer included) with green-tinted, vegetable-flavored tea cakes. Before the year ends, chef Rhea Sycip introduces her confectionery contribution, a cake that takes inspiration from her recent European trip. It is composed of two variants of sponge cake—vanilla and wakatake matcha from Uji, roasted marron cremeux, and wakatake matcha whipped cream. Color- and flavor-wise, it befits the holiday season but it’s so good it certainly deserves to be a mainstay.

6. Tres Leches Entremet Cake by Patisserie Le Choux-Colat (@patisserielechouxcolat)

I’ve never indulged in a tres leches cake as beautiful as this. In celebration of Mother’s Day, chef Ely Salar released an elegant cake crowned with a handmade peach-hued chocolate rose. It’s so stunning not just on the outside but also inside that I hesitated from slicing through—vanilla genoise sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, whipped white chocolate Chantilly cream, and salted caramel flan are layered in perfect proportion then dressed in a vanilla bean white chocolate ganache.

7. Ylang Ylang Brûlée Pie by Hey Pie People (@hey.pie.people)

Back in September, the couple behind Hey Pie People did the unthinkable. They collaborated with Toyo Eatery to come up with a meal that explored the possibilities of pie dough. There were savories like hand pies stuffed with tinapa, tuna and fish roe, and a chicken adobo pot pie. When it came to the sweet stuff, they had more than a handful guests could choose from, including a spiced Bauko pear pie with salabat ice cream, and a Tublay meringue pie. What induced great interest and intrigue, which eventually led to astonishment is the one with ylang ylang-flavored custard. It required flavor balance, which Raeanne Sagan and husband Colin unquestionably aced.

8. Matcha Black Sesame Crumble by The Manila Baker (@themanilabaker)

Not only is the matcha-black sesame combination a tried-and-tested classic, but it’s also a tandem that provides positive benefits as both are good sources of antioxidants. Best of all, it’s simply decadent and delicious. Matcha chiffon cakes sandwich a black sesame salted cream cheese layer and are then frosted with a high-grade ceremonial matcha buttercream then capped with a black sesame crumble.

9. Tarta de Queso by Burnt Basque Cheesecake by Chele (@cheesecakebychele)

After many hours spent developing the recipe for this cheesecake, Chele Gonzalez and wife Teri proudly launched their Tarta de Queso to the public last October. Their Burnt Basque has always topped the charts but this creamy and sinful Spanish cheesecake is challenging its rank. It’s creamy, dreamy, and an utterly decadent pastry made of three cheeses.

10. Mamita’s Guava Mango Gourmet Pie from Serendipity Gourmet (@serendipitygourmetph)

Guava has an enticing scent and flavor that’s like a cross between strawberry and pear. It’s sweet without being saccharine, which makes it the perfect ingredient for desserts. Serendipity Gourmet acknowledges this in such a delightful way by pairing it with mango for a tropical filling nestled on its flaky crust. The whole thing is then topped with unsweetened leche flan and cream.

11. Amor Macaron Cake by Leonisa’s Kitchen (@leonisaskitchen)

If, like me, you find pleasure in the crunchy shell and chewy center of French macarons, then you’ll surely have a big reason to love Leonisa’s Kitchen’s Valentine offering. In between this massive meringue sandwich are fresh strawberries and white chocolate cheesecake. It is then accessorized with edible flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, and mini mixed berries macarons.

12. Chocolate Celebration Cake from 50 Shades of Dough @50shadesofdough)

“One of my good friends and her family are obsessed with my two-layer chocolate cake. Every Saturday evening, without fail, she would call to place an order,” says Trisha del Rosario. “She traveled to London and sent me a photo of the famous Berta Cake saying, ‘How divine would your chocolate cake be with this many layers?’ That sparked an idea. I decided it wouldn’t be just tall, it would be the biggest cake on my menu.” The result is a nine-layer masterpiece that’s rich, moist, and covered with a sticky fudge icing. INQ

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